" ... aged just five. Both are said to be seasoned fighters".

Haaaaa haaaaa ha ha. Don't make me laugh. They're only just into dry pyjamas at night. Seasoned fighters ... ha ha ha ha ha.

How is putting a couple of five-year-olds in a boxing ring any different from the case in Devon a year or so ago, where a couple of women videoed their toddlers punching each other in the face and were prosecuted as a result?

A couple of five year olds aren't old enough to decide whether they want to take up a martial art. And why would any parent WANT to see their five-year-old get hit in the face and burst into tears?

Bob, you won't be saying that when one of these mini hardnuts levels you with a roundhouse kick to the ankle!

I think that as long as it is regulated properly, it is a good discipline for children to learn.

Its certainly better than most five year olds who learn how to use a remote control/joyskick while their parents sit on their flabby backsides smoking drinking and swearing.

Oi! Spanner, Why is it o.k. to let kids beat the hell out of each other- but yet people are up in arms if dog owners pit their animals to fight? Priorities are wrong somewhere

marc: why not get young marc jnr signed up now - before the rush?

I must discuss schools with you too shortly. Had any thoughts? Harrow? Westminster?

Would probably have given mayweather a better fight than hatton did.

i'll pass on that, thanks Bob.

i was thinking of sending Marc Jnr to Ace's School Of 'Ard Knocks.

My children both used to go to Muay Thai Boxing in Walkden at Tiger King Muay Thai Boxing Club. Ronnie and Bill who were the senior instructors at the time (and probably still are) took a great deal of care when teaching the children how to "fight". Kid's are taught that they must also have respect for each other and all using the facility. All kids are taught that they must not use thier newly acquired skills outside of the studio or in a bullying manner. All children had to wear protective head guard, gum shield, body shield, shin and foot protectors. My children only stopped going when they took up other sports but I know from experience that my son has relied on his skills when he was grabbed by another pupil at school and managed to get out of the situation using the skills he had learnt at Thai Boxing. I do not agree that the sport should be banned for kids as young and having seen the competetive bouts myself i can asure you that I have never seen a child forced to take part. I imagine that the child who was seen crying was emotional. Until you have taken part in a fight you cannot understand that you may not be the best, you may in fact lose. So many things these days do not educate our children to the fact that sometimes you cannot come first. My husband was taught Thai Boxing by Master Sken when he first started teaching in Manchester. I know that my husband can be pushed to the limit when most men would probably snap and I put this down to the teachings of Master Sken and Thai Boxing and learning how NOT to lose control. I certainly never had any concerns when my children were going Thai Boxing which they did sometimes 4 times each week. My children, now both teenagers, are calm and polite and do not lose their temper at the drop of a hat. I do not know that having been Thai Boxing had anything to do with but if it did then I am glad they both went.

Now come on, this is just going too far. How will the average Chav cope without seeing his kids knock the living daylights out of each other? He'd have to wait until they're at least 9 before they are big enough to go out in a pack and beat up some passer by at the nearest street corner.

Whisper,

I don't give a monkey about dogs. Once again you are trying to change a sensible subject by throwing in a nonsense argument. Last time I looked Mauy Thai does not involve biting each other to death.

As the nice lady says - It teaches discipline as well as fighting skills. I bet the proportion of kids who do contact sports like this carrying knives to school is much lower. It provides exercise and has a social aspect.

Yet another wet liberal control freakery nanny state story.

Look at Mr Angry. I bet he never did Thai Boxing and now look at him

Forgetting the moral aspects of getting children to thump each other - what is the entertainment value?

You can't spout the tale that the 'sport' is a self defence system. It is a visual entertainment, like wrestling, boxing, football etc.

Let's be frank, sending your kid to Thai boxing is just another way of trying to be different. Put them in the cubs, it'll do 'em more good.

What I find amazing, is that Social Services childrens department have been very quiet on the matter. They seem quick to want to stop parents giving disciple to their children, yet allow this to go on. There are far better ways to keep children fit.

No Dog Fighting, No child Fighting?????

Some people just dont like fun.

Next they will try and ban monkey knife fights!

Before people start passing Judgement on Thai Boxing for kids, they need to look into it.

This martial art has been around in the UK since 1977 so it isn’t a new craze sweeping the country, as some news articles have deemed it to be. It teaches fitness, self defence and discipline. Kids and Adults alike can not use Thai Boxing outside of the gym, unless under extreme provocation, as it is against the rules and regulations of their UK Muay Thai Licence.

Kids are never pushed into fighting and if they do decide to fight there is either no head contact without a head guard or very light contact with. If the doubters out there take a few minutes to watch a kids UK Thai Boxing fight they will notice that they are fully padded up and the ref will stop the fight if head contact or foul blows are made.

People need to be told that some gyms had been approached and filmed for several hours before being told that the footage just wasn’t what they are looking for. The media have been digging around looking for the exception rather than the norm, the pushy parents that will do anything to live their lives through their kids.

The parents who let their kids enjoy Thai and don’t put any pressure on them have not been approached. Because of these “pushy parents” being portrayed on the channel 4 documentary all parents who allow their kids to do Thai will be looked at as if they are abusing their kids…..this is not the case.

The kids that are abusing their Thai Boxing knowledge to bully and intimidate should be banned from their gyms. The parents who think it is appropriate to push their kids and make them fight when they are not ready should take a step back and ask themselves is this what my child wants or is this what I want.

MP’s are now talking about banning the martial art for kids… I think that, before making any decisions, they need to attend one of the many well run kids training sessions at a local Thai Boxing gym. The kids are training hard but are always smiling and having fun.

You do not hear any complaints about kids taking part in karate or any other martial art and in fact there are probably more injuries to kids playing football than in Thai.

"Kids are never pushed into fighting ". Kids are never pushed into walking in front of cars but sadly thousands do every year. That is a stupid argument. Kids generally do what they have been told to do.

"What I find amazing, is that Social Services childrens department have been very quiet on the matter. They seem quick to want to stop parents giving disciple to their children, yet allow this to go on. There are far better ways to keep children fit."

evangelist, i'm flabbergasted by the ignorance you display in this comment.

1) a contact sport is not a child protection issue, unless children are being forced to fight eachother in which case it would fall under the category of physical abuse and neglect.

2) how exactely are social services (actually, its called 'children's services' now but considering you seem to envisage the department in a blindly ignorant, 1970's way we'll stick with your terminology) stopping parents from disciplining their children? i want examples, hard facts and evidence. i have never once in all the time i've worked for social services seen a social worker stop a parent from disciplining a child. however, i've seen them protect children from paedophiles, murderers and junkie parents within the boundaries of legislation which quite often works against them rather than with them.

3) the reason social services have 'kept quiet' is because no one has made a referral. social services reacts to the concerns of the public and other professionals. therefore, NOBODY THINKS THIS IS A CHILD PROTECTION ISSUE. do you want me to spell that out for you?

okay, rant over.

What is the problem here? At least they are not fighting in the streets.

Most correspondents are treating this for exactly what it is, media sensationalism. I am a Masters educated, European manager, my wife is a charted accountant, hardly rough and ready parents. Yet our son continues to enjoy the sport of Kick Boxing. It has taught him discipline (how many kids have that nowadays), respect (again..),self control (again ..) and has been a great sport/exercise for a boy who does not like football, rugby, cricket etc.

If you watch the media footage, they have to concentrate on an over zealous father because when they cut back to the two boys fighting, in truth they are hardly laying a glove on each other. Which is true of most children’s fights. I have always been most impressed with the way the Kick/Thai Boxing community have impressed on young children the need for restraint and self control when fighting. It’s a great sport, I would encourage all to have a go.

Le Comte Boblesque, both my children, a boy and a girl have also attended Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and been attendees at a Muay Thai Gym. Both activities can be enjoyed. Having said that I did struggle to get my kids into the scouting movement because they were not at a school that the groups were attached to. This was not something which was an issue in Thai Boxing.........another reason to take part........Thai Boxing does not discriminate!!

Both my two children went to the same gym that Doobydoo has referred to and yes i sing from the same hymn sheet in that both my two children are respectful, well mannered and not quick to lose their temper. Yes they can defend themselves should this be necessary, however the first rule they learn as a child is if you can run, run as fast as you can. Yet another piece of senstationalism tv for those who want to watch it and not develop your own opinions based on fact and first hand knowledge however still feel it necessary to liken this to animal cruelty. Get a life - just becaise the gym featured ticks all your boxes within the cruelty and pushy parents boxes - dont think for one minute this applies to genuine gyms and training camps.

I can't believe this is allowed to go on,Encouraging young children to fight in this way and lets face it if the parents said no they wouldnt be doing it is tantamount to child abuse.There should be at least a minimum age to fight of at least 12 or 13.
There are many other non agressive sports (if you can really call battering someone unconscious a sport) that kids can use to keep fit and build confidence in themselves without resolving to violent assault on another child,This "sport" sits squarely with the dog fighting,hare coursing and other obscene blood sports enjoyed primarily by low class,low morals and low intelligence people.As the channel 4 programme proved.
Quite plainly these people are using their children to try and boost their own egos.I wonder how long these children would continue fighting without constant pressure from their parents.
I'm sure if they found their child in the street fighting they wouldn't stand back and encourage them on.whats the difference ?
Why is it legal to encourage them to violently attack another child.

BAN IT NOW !!!

i lived with a thai boxing instroctor for 15 years he used it on me and my children he still teaches now

im 12 yrs old and i want to start thai boxing ive always had fun boxing and think thai boxing is a fun way to learn self defence